Mangaluru, Dec 18, 2019: DK District In-charge Secretary V Ponnuraj IAS has directed officials to submit a report on impounding water at a height of seven metres at Thumbe vented dam, the main source of water for Mangaluru.

“The officials should visit the spot and submit a report at the earliest,” he emphasised, while presiding over a meeting to review the developmental works in Dakshina Kannada district at the DK DC’s office on December 17, Tuesday.

Secretary Ponnuraj IAS said that details, including the total land likely to be submerged if the dam’s height is increased to seven metres, should be included in the report.

“Officials from the Revenue and the Survey departments and the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) should jointly conduct the survey to estimate the extent of land likely to be submerged,” he instructed.

Toilet facilities :

Secretary Ponnuraj IAS also directed departments concerned to construct more public toilets at bus stops, markets and main junctions in the district. He said that the toilets should be maintained at regular intervals. There is a need to collect inputs from users about the toilet in public places, he said.

The work on construction of 600 houses at Idya in Mangaluru City Corporation jurisdiction has begun. Ponnuraj expressed displeasure that the construction of houses for poor under various housing schemes is moving at a snails’ pace and directed officials to expedite the process of completing the houses.

The district in-charge secretary also said that officials should complete the work on the repair of houses damaged during the recent rains.

“The officials should ensure that all the flood-hit victims have received Rs 1 lakh from the government,” Ponnuraj instructed.

He also directed the Wakf officer to submit report on the Wakf properties encroached upon in the district.

Displeasure about UGD works

DK District In-charge Secretary V Ponnuraj expressed displeasure on the underground drainage (UGD) works taken up in different parts of Mangaluru. The work on the UGD system under Smart City Mission, Amrit scheme and ADB second phase at different locations in the city are being implemented without a proper thought, he said.

“In order to set right the missing links of UGD project implemented in the first phase of ADB funded project, KUIDFC had released Rs 58 crore. The money should be utilised effectively,” he stressed.